Tag Archives: PHEV

Alfa Romeo CEO Unhappy With Tonale’s PHEV Powertrain Performance, SUV Delayed By 3 Months

The production-ready Alfa Romeo Tonale was supposed to be shown this fall, yet the unveiling was reportedly pushed back by three months. That’s how much time the team behind the project needs to improve the performance of the powertrain, at the request of CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato.

Peugeot’s former head honcho, who now leads Alfa Romeo into the Stellantis era, is said to have demanded “better performance” from the plug-in hybrid assembly. This was confirmed to AutoNews by an anonymous insider, and the apparent three-month delay information, which will allegedly push it back to early 2022, came via supplier sources.

See More: Production Alfa Romeo Tonale Surfaces In Leaked Photos With A Tamed Look

Built on FCA’s Small Wide LWB 4×4 platform, which also underpins the Jeep Compass, the Tonale will become Alfa’s entry-level SUV, slotting under the Stelvio. It was previewed by a concept car at the Geneva Motor Show two years ago, and it should mirror its overall styling, albeit with new lighting units at both ends and traditional side mirrors instead of cameras, as leaked imaged have shown.

Details surrounding the powertrain family are a well-preserved secret, but since it shares its construction with the Compass, it might launch with its plug-in hybrid unit(s), though probably with more oomph. Jeep’s compact SUV, which was recently facelifted in Europe, is offered with 190 PS (187 HP / 140 kW) and 240 PS (237 HP / 177 kW) and an 11.4 kWh battery. The Tonale will have an electric-only range of a few tens of kilometers. A high-performance Quadrifoglio version was apparently ruled out.

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Fully-Spec 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Is One Seriously Expensive Plug-in Hybrid SUV

Jeep has launched the online configurator for the 2021 Wrangler 4xe, which lets users build their ideal model.

The first step is to select the exterior color of the vehicle, although if you want anything other than white, you will have to pay a $245 premium. Then you will have to decide if Mopar’s grille and the integrated off-road camera are something that you really need, as the first one costs $325, while the second one is a $595 option.

The body-colored fender flares are another $695, while the Sky One-Touch Power-Top will set you back $4,095. The 17-inch wheels shod in the chunky off-road tires from BFGoodrich are standard though.

Read Also: Jeep Throws A 470HP Hemi V8 In The 2021 Wrangler Rubicon 392 That Does 0-60 In Just 4.5 sec

The leather-trimmed seats, all-weather floor mats, Mopar’s grab handle kit and others are also options, so you may want to pay attention to how many boxes you check, because the Wrangler 4xe specified by us has a net price of $67,630. That’s a $15,935 premium over the MSRP of the Wrangler Rubicon 4xe, and it makes the SUV just $1,780 cheaper than a base Grand Cherokee SRT and $2,465 cheaper than a Ram 1500 TRX.

Built at Jeep’s Ohio facility, which is where the rest of the Wrangler lineup also comes to life, the plug-in hybrid variant of the SUV has a 17 kWh lithium-ion battery that gives it a maximum electric range of 25 miles (40 km). Power is supplied by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and two electric motors, for a total of 375 HP (380 PS / 280 kW) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque.

You can access the online configurator here.

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Facelifted 2022 Jeep Compass Might Debut Sooner Than Expected

Jeep is working on the first mid-cycle refresh of the Compass, four years after production of the second generation started, with prototypes already spied undergoing testing on the other side of the pond.

The facelifted compact SUV was initially believed to debut sometime next year, but it appears that the unveiling date might actually be sooner than expected.

Quoting undisclosed sources, MoparInsiders reports that the 2022 Compass could be due next month, revealing its updates under the spotlight at the Guangzhou Auto Show, in China. The event is scheduled to kick off on November 22 and will close its gates on December 1.

Review: Should You Want A 2019 Jeep Compass In Your Life? (Spoiler Alert: No)

As for the changes that will set it apart from the current iteration, previous spy shots have shown that it will feature a modified front bumper with reshaped air intakes, new fog lamps, different taillights and likely a new rear bumper design, although the camouflage did a very good job at hiding it.

We can expect a few upgrades inside too, with the latest prototype sporting a huge infotainment screen in the middle of the dashboard, surrounded by a metallic frame. The instrument panel hood and steering wheel might be revised as well.

We don’t expect any changes to the North American model’s powertrain, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 180 HP and 175 lb-ft (237 Nm) of torque and is available with three different transmissions driving either the front or all-four wheels.

Jeep’s Euro-spec Compass packs a variety of powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid that combines the turbo’d 1.3-liter gasoline unit with a rear-mounted electric motor and a 11.4 kWh battery pack, enabling a zero-emission range of around 30 miles (50 km). However, it is yet unknown whether the electrified Compass 4xe will launch in the U.S. with the facelifted model.

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Citroen Is Once Again Going After Audi And BMW, This Time With A New Flagship Sedan For China

Citroen will take yet another swing at the premium segment with a new four-door model. Aimed at the Chinese car market, it’s expected to launch before the end of next year, likely as the successor of the second-gen C6, which has been around since late 2016 in the People’s Republic.

So, why limit it to China and not launch it globally? Because sedans still outsell SUVs in the People’s Republic. As for the basics of the model, Autocar reports that it will be based on the EMP2 platform, which will tie it to the Peugeot 508 and new DS 9.

See Also: DS Designers Imagine What A Modern-Day Citroen SM Would Look Like

In terms of power, it’s expected with regular combustion engines and a plug-in hybrid that will give it a zero-emission driving range of around 40 miles (64 km). A full-blown electric version has been ruled out for launch, even if the architecture could support such a powertrain, but could be added at some point given China’s appetite for EVs. More importantly though, it will have a magic carpet ride made possible by the Progressive Hydraulic Cushion suspension set-up.

The design of the vehicle is said to be in the process of being finalized, as it needs to be adapted to the local market, where the looks of the front end of a vehicle “must deliver the right status, presence, reassurance that you made the right choice”, according to the French firm’s CEO, Vincent Cobee.

2016 Citroen CXPerience Concept

“Plus, safety regulations, road conditions, engine size and fuel are different. There will be a number of things related to suspension tuning, powertrain choices, color and material and overall delivery of the car that vary”, he added. “The different versions will use the same platform and silhouette, but there are a number of dimensions where you can adapt expectations.”

Citroen’s new flagship sedan could be inspired by the 2016 CXperience Concept, which was presented at the Paris Auto Show, came with an electrified gasoline engine and had a 37-mile (60-km) electric range.

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Note: Citroen CXPerience Concept pictured above